3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Chili  \Chil"i\,  n.  [Sp.  chili,  chile.] 
  A  kind  of  red  pepper.  See  {Capsicum}  [Written  also  {chilli} 
  and  {chile}.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Chile 
  n  1:  a  republic  in  S  South  America  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
  Andes  [syn:  {Chile}] 
  2:  very  hot  and  finely  tapering  pepper  of  special  pungency 
  [syn:  {chili},  {chili  pepper},  {chilli},  {chilly}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Chile 
 
  Chile:Geography 
 
  Location:  Southern  South  America,  bordering  the  South  Atlantic  Ocean 
  and  South  Pacific  Ocean,  between  Argentina  and  Peru 
 
  Map  references:  South  America 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  756,950  sq  km 
  land  area:  748,800  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  twice  the  size  of  Montana 
  note:  includes  Isla  de  Pascua  (Easter  Island)  and  Isla  Sala  y  Gomez 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  6,171  km  Argentina  5,150  km  Bolivia  861  km 
  Peru  160  km 
 
  Coastline:  6,435  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  contiguous  zone:  24  nm 
  continental  shelf:  200  nm 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  short  section  of  the  southern  boundary  with 
  Argentina  is  indefinite;  Bolivia  has  wanted  a  sovereign  corridor  to 
  the  South  Pacific  Ocean  since  the  Atacama  area  was  lost  to  Chile  in 
  1884;  dispute  with  Bolivia  over  Rio  Lauca  water  rights;  territorial 
  claim  in  Antarctica  (Chilean  Antarctic  Territory)  partially  overlaps 
  Argentine  and  British  claims 
 
  Climate:  temperate;  desert  in  north;  cool  and  damp  in  south 
 
  Terrain:  low  coastal  mountains;  fertile  central  valley;  rugged  Andes 
  in  east 
 
  Natural  resources:  copper,  timber,  iron  ore,  nitrates,  precious 
  metals,  molybdenum 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  7% 
  permanent  crops:  0% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  16% 
  forest  and  woodland:  21% 
  other:  56% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  12,650  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  air  pollution  from  industrial  and  vehicle  emissions; 
  water  pollution  from  raw  sewage;  deforestation  contributing  to  loss  of 
  biodiversity;  soil  erosion;  desertification 
  natural  hazards:  severe  earthquakes;  active  volcanism;  tsunamis 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Antarctic-Environmental  Protocol, 
  Antarctic  Treaty,  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Endangered  Species, 
  Environmental  Modification,  Hazardous  Wastes,  Marine  Dumping,  Nuclear 
  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Ship  Pollution,  Wetlands,  Whaling; 
  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  strategic  location  relative  to  sea  lanes  between  Atlantic  and 
  Pacific  Oceans  (Strait  of  Magellan,  Beagle  Channel,  Drake  Passage); 
  Atacama  Desert  one  of  world's  driest  regions 
 
  Chile:People 
 
  Population:  14,161,216  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  29%  (female  2,014,877;  male  2,099,450) 
  15-64  years:  64%  (female  4,574,947;  male  4,529,251) 
  65  years  and  over:  7%  (female  549,385;  male  393,306)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  1.49%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  20.29  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  5.42  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  14.3  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  74.88  years 
  male:  71.89  years 
  female:  78.01  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  2.49  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Chilean(s) 
  adjective:  Chilean 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  European  and  European-Indian  95%,  Indian  3%,  other 
  2% 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic  89%,  Protestant  11%,  Jewish 
 
  Languages:  Spanish 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1992) 
  total  population:  94% 
  male:  95% 
  female:  94% 
 
  Labor  force:  4.728  million 
  by  occupation:  services  38.3%  (includes  government  12%),  industry  and 
  commerce  33.8%,  agriculture,  forestry,  and  fishing  19.2%,  mining  2.3%, 
  construction  6.4%  (1990) 
 
  Chile:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Chile 
  conventional  short  form:  Chile 
  local  long  form:  Republica  de  Chile 
  local  short  form:  Chile 
 
  Digraph:  CI 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Santiago 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  13  regions  (regiones,  singular  -  region); 
  Aisen  del  General  Carlos  Ibanez  del  Campo,  Antofagasta,  Araucania, 
  Atacama  Bio-Bio,  Coquimbo  Libertador  General  Bernardo  O'Higgins,  Los 
  Lagos,  Magallanes  y  de  la  Antartica  Chilena,  Maule,  Region 
  Metropolitana,  Tarapaca  Valparaiso 
  note:  the  US  does  not  recognize  claims  to  Antarctica 
 
  Independence:  18  September  1810  (from  Spain) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  18  September  (1810) 
 
  Constitution:  11  September  1980,  effective  11  March  1981;  amended  30 
  July  1989 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  Code  of  1857  derived  from  Spanish  law  and 
  subsequent  codes  influenced  by  French  and  Austrian  law;  judicial 
  review  of  legislative  acts  in  the  Supreme  Court;  has  not  accepted 
  compulsory  ICJ  jurisdiction 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal  and  compulsory 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Eduardo  FREI 
  Ruiz-Tagle  (since  11  March  1994)  election  last  held  11  December  1993 
  (next  to  be  held  December  1999);  results  -  Eduardo  FREI  Ruiz-Tagle 
  (PDC)  58%,  Arturo  ALESSANDRI  24.4%,  other  17.6% 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  president 
 
  Legislative  branch:  bicameral  National  Congress  (Congreso  Nacional) 
  Senate  (Senado):  election  last  held  11  December  1993  (next  to  be  held 
  December  1997);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  -  (46 
  total,  38  elected)  Concertation  of  Parties  for  Democracy  21  (PDC  13, 
  PS  4,  PPD  3,  PR  1),  Union  for  the  Progress  of  Chile  15  (RN  11,  UDI  3, 
  UCC  1),  right-wing  independents  10 
  Chamber  of  Deputies  (Camara  de  Diputados):  election  last  held  11 
  December  1993  (next  to  be  held  December  1997);  results  -  Concertation 
  of  Parties  for  Democracy  53.95%  (PDC  27.16%,  PS  12.01%,  PPD  11.82%,  PR 
  2.96%,);  Union  for  the  Progress  of  Chile  30.57%  (RN  15.25%,  UDI 
  12.13%,  UCC  3.19%);  seats  -  (120  total)  Concertation  of  Parties  for 
  Democracy  70  (PDC  37,  PPD  15,  PR  2,  PS  15,  left-wing  independent  1), 
  Union  for  the  Progress  of  Chile  47  (RN  30,  UDI  15,  UCC  2),  right-wing 
  independents  3 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  (Corte  Suprema) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Concertation  of  Parties  for  Democracy 
  consists  mainly  of  three  parties:  Christian  Democratic  Party  (PDC), 
  Alejandro  FOXLEY;  Socialist  Party  (PS),  Camilo  ESCALONA;  Party  for 
  Democracy  (PPD),  Jorge  SCHAULSOHN  Radical  Party  (PR);  Union  for  the 
  Progress  of  Chile  consists  mainly  of  three  parties:  National  Renewal 
  (RN),  Andres  ALLAMAND;  Independent  Democratic  Union  (UDI),  Jovino 
  NOVOA;  Center  Center  Union  (UCC),  Francisco  Javier  ERRAZURIZ 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  revitalized  university  student 
  federations  at  all  major  universities;  labor  -  United  Labor  Central 
  (CUT)  includes  trade  unionists  from  the  country's  five  largest  labor 
  confederations;  Roman  Catholic  Church 
 
  Member  of:  APEC,  CCC,  ECLAC  FAO,  G-11,  G-77,  GATT,  IADB,  IAEA,  IBRD, 
  ICAO,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT 
  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM,  ISO,  ITU,  LAES,  LAIA,  NAM,  OAS,  ONUSAL 
  OPANAL  PCA,  RG  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UNMOGIP  UNTSO  UNU,  UPU, 
  WCL,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Gabriel  GUERRA-MONDRAGON 
  chancery:  1732  Massachusetts  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20036 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  785-1746 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  887-5579 
  consulate(s)  general:  Chicago,  Houston,  Los  Angeles,  Miami,  New  York, 
  Philadelphia,  San  Francisco,  and  San  Juan  (Puerto  Rico) 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Gabriel  GUERRA-MONDRAGON 
  embassy:  Codina  Building,  1343  Agustinas  Santiago 
  mailing  address:  Unit  4127,  Santiago;  APO  AA  34033 
  telephone:  [56]  (2)  232-2600 
  FAX:  [56]  (2)  330-3710 
 
  Flag:  two  equal  horizontal  bands  of  white  top  and  red;  there  is  a 
  blue  square  the  same  height  as  the  white  band  at  the  hoist-side  end  of 
  the  white  band;  the  square  bears  a  white  five-pointed  star  in  the 
  center;  design  was  based  on  the  US  flag 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Chile  has  a  prosperous,  essentially  free  market  economy, 
  with  the  degree  of  government  intervention  varying  according  to  the 
  philosophy  of  the  different  regimes.  Under  the  center-left  government 
  of  President  AYLWIN  which  took  power  in  March  1990,  spending  on 
  social  welfare  rose  steadily.  At  the  same  time  business  investment, 
  exports,  and  consumer  spending  also  grew  substantially.  The  new 
  president,  FREI,  who  took  office  in  March  1994,  has  emphasized  social 
  spending  even  more  Growth  in  1991-94  has  averaged  6.5%  annually,  with 
  an  estimated  one  million  Chileans  having  moved  out  of  poverty  in  the 
  last  four  years.  Copper  remains  vital  to  the  health  of  the  economy; 
  Chile  is  the  world's  largest  producer  and  exporter  of  copper.  Success 
  in  meeting  the  government's  goal  of  sustained  annual  growth  of  5% 
  depends  on  world  copper  prices,  the  level  of  confidence  of  foreign 
  investors  and  creditors,  and  the  government's  own  ability  to  maintain 
  a  conservative  fiscal  stance. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $97.7  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  4.3%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $7,010  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  8.7%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  6%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $10.9  billion 
  expenditures:  $10.9  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $1.2 
  billion  (1993) 
 
  Exports:  $11.5  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994) 
  commodities:  copper  41%,  other  metals  and  minerals  8.7%,  wood  products 
  7.1%,  fish  and  fishmeal  9.8%,  fruits  8.4%  (1991) 
  partners:  EC  29%,  Japan  17%,  US  16%,  Argentina  5%,  Brazil  5%  (1992) 
 
  Imports:  $10.9  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994) 
  commodities:  capital  goods  25.2%,  spare  parts  24.8%,  raw  materials 
  15.4%,  petroleum  10%,  foodstuffs  5.7% 
  partners:  EC  24%,  US  21%,  Brazil  10%,  Japan  10%  (1992) 
 
  External  debt:  $20  billion  (1994  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  4.3%  (1993  est.);  accounts  for  34% 
  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  4,810,000  kW 
  production:  22  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  1,499  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  copper,  other  minerals,  foodstuffs,  fish  processing,  iron 
  and  steel,  wood  and  wood  products,  transport  equipment,  cement, 
  textiles 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  about  7%  of  GDP  (including  fishing  and 
  forestry);  major  exporter  of  fruit,  fish,  and  timber  products;  major 
  crops  -  wheat,  corn,  grapes,  beans,  sugar  beets,  potatoes,  deciduous 
  fruit;  livestock  products  -  beef,  poultry,  wool;  self-sufficient  in 
  most  foods;  1991  fish  catch  of  6.6  million  metric  tons;  net 
  agricultural  importer 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  a  minor  transshipment  country  for  cocaine  destined  for 
  the  US  and  Europe;  booming  economy  has  made  it  more  attractive  to 
  traffickers  seeking  to  launder  drug  profits 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $521  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $1.6  billion;  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $386  million 
 
  Currency:  1  Chilean  peso  (Ch$)  =  100  centavos 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Chilean  pesos  (Ch$)  per  US$1  -  408  (January  1995), 
  420.08  (1994),  404.35  (1993),  362.59  (1992),  349.37  (1991),  305.06 
  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Chile:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  7,766  km 
  broad  gauge:  3,974  km  1.676-m  gauge  (1,865  km  electrified) 
  standard  gauge:  150  km  1.435-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  3,642  km  1.000-m  gauge  (80  km  electrified) 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  79,599  km 
  paved:  10,984  km 
  unpaved:  gravel  or  earth  68,615  km  (1990) 
 
  Inland  waterways:  725  km 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  755  km  petroleum  products  785  km  natural  gas 
  320  km 
 
  Ports:  Antofagasta,  Arica,  Chanarol  Coquimbo  Iquique  Puerto  Montt, 
  Punta  Arenas,  San  Antonio,  San  Vicente  Talcahuano  Valparaiso 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  36  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  510,006  GRT/879,891  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  bulk  13,  cargo  7,  chemical  tanker  3,  combination 
  ore/oil  2,  liquefied  gas  tanker  3,  oil  tanker  3,  roll-on/roll-off 
  cargo  3,  vehicle  carrier  2 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  390 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  18 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  17 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  252 
  with  unpaved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  3 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  13 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  76 
 
  Chile:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  768,000  telephones;  modern  telephone  system  based  on 
  extensive  microwave  radio  relay  facilities 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  extensive  microwave  radio  relay  links  and  3  domestic 
  satellite  stations 
  international:  2  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  earth  stations 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  159,  FM  0,  shortwave  11 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  131 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Chile:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army  of  the  Nation,  National  Navy  (includes  Naval  Air,  Coast 
  Guard,  and  Marines),  Air  Force  of  the  Nation,  Carabineros  of  Chile 
  (National  Police),  Investigations  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  3,758,770;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  2,796,740;  males  reach  military  age  (19)  annually 
  121,831  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $1  billion,  3.4%  of 
  GDP  (1991  est.) 
 
 
 

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